Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and, therefore, certain information and disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") have been omitted.

In the opinion of management, the information reflects all adjustments necessary to make the results of operations for the interim periods a fair statement of such operations. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.

Reported amounts and note disclosures reflect the overall economic conditions that are most likely to occur and anticipated measures management intends to take. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed quarterly. Any revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid securities with original maturities at the date of acquisition of ninety days or less.

Short-term Investments

Investments with an original maturity of more than ninety days are considered short-term investments and have been classified by management as available-for-sale. These investments are classified as current assets, even though the stated maturity date may be one year or more beyond the current balance sheet date, which reflects management’s intention to use the proceeds from sales of these securities to fund its operations, as necessary.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company invests its excess cash in accordance with its investment policy. The Company's investments are comprised primarily of commercial paper and debt instruments of financial institutions, corporations, U.S. government-sponsored agencies and the U.S. Treasury. The Company mitigates credit risk by maintaining a diversified portfolio and limiting the amount of investment exposure as to institution, maturity and investment type. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents and short-term investments.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

Operating segments are components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker for purposes of making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. To date, the Company has viewed its operations and managed its business as one segment operating primarily in the United States.

New accounting pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which clarifies and provides a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively on or after the effective date. This update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those periods. Early adoption is permitted for acquisition or deconsolidation transactions occurring before the issuance date or effective date and only when the transactions have not been reported in issued financial statements. The Company early adopted this standard effective April 1, 2017 in connection with an immaterial collaboration agreement it entered into during the quarter. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718). The new guidance changes the accounting and simplifies various aspects of the accounting for share-based payments to employees. The guidance allows for a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur or based on an estimated number of awards that are expected to vest. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-09. The impact of this adoption was limited to the accounting for forfeitures of certain stock based awards, which is adopted on a modified retrospective basis. Upon adoption, the Company will no longer estimate forfeitures and will instead account for forfeitures as they occur. This policy election was made to allow simplification of the accounting for share-based awards. The cumulative effect of adoption was an increase to both additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit of $0.4 million.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. Under the new guidance, management is required to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. The provisions of this ASU are effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual and interim periods thereafter; early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this guidance as of December 31, 2016 and the adoption did not require any additional disclosures in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 or for the current period.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which will replace numerous requirements in U.S. GAAP, including industry-specific requirements, and provide companies with a single revenue recognition model for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The core principle of the new standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB approved a proposal to defer the effective date of the guidance until annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Although the Company currently does not have any revenue contracts, the Company early adopted this standard effective January 1, 2017 using the full retrospective method of adoption so that, in the event the Company enters into any revenue contracts, the contracts will be accounted for under the new guidance from inception of the contract.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260); Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480); Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Non-controlling Interests with a Scope Exception.The ASU allows companies to exclude a down round feature when determining whether a financial instrument (or embedded conversion feature) is considered indexed to the entity’s own stock. As a result, financial instruments (or embedded conversion features) with down round features may no longer be required to be classified as liabilities. A company will recognize the value of a down round feature only when it is triggered and the strike price has been adjusted downward. For equity-classified freestanding financial instruments, such as warrants, an entity will treat the value of the effect of the down round, when triggered, as a dividend and a reduction of income available to common shareholders in computing basic earnings per share. For convertible instruments with embedded conversion features containing down round provisions, entities will recognize the value of the down round as a beneficial conversion discount to be amortized to earnings. The guidance in ASU 2017-11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, and the guidance is to be applied using a full or modified retrospective approach. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2017-11 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements unless a transaction occurs that would need to be evaluated under this guidance at which time the Company will assess the impact of this standard.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation, to provide clarity and reduce both 1) diversity in practice and 2) cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718 to a change in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award.  ASU 2017-09 provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting under Topic 718.  The amendments in ASU 2017-09 are effective for fiscal and interim reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017.  Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period.  The amendments in ASU 2017-09 should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date.  The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2017-09 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements unless a transaction occurs that would need to be evaluated under this guidance at which time the Company will assess the impact of this standard.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Under the new guidance, lessees are required to recognize most lease assets and lease liabilities on their balance sheets and record expenses on their income statements in a manner similar to current accounting. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The primary impact of this new accounting guidance will be related to the Company's facilities lease and the Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related financial statement disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The new guidance enhances the reporting model for financial instruments and includes amendments to address aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure. The update to the standard is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company does not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or related financial statement disclosures.

Net loss per share

Net loss per share

Basic net loss per common share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common share equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding for the period. Common share equivalents outstanding, determined using the treasury stock method, are comprised of shares that may be issued under the Company’s stock option and warrant agreements.